Law Practice Management
The First Timer’s Going to Court Cheat Sheet
What to wear? Where to stand? Going to court for the first time can be an intimidating experience, but it can become familiar with practice. The level of formality and decorum in a courtroom is a unique part of Canadian life and should be treated seriously. Unlike what you may have seen on shows and… Read More »
Categories: Practice AidsCan you trust what’s in your trust account? A brief overview of Canada’s electronic payment systems
Every day, millions of Canadians electronically transfer funds among themselves, using their bank or other financial institutions as an intermediary. Conveniences like Interac debit purchases, online e-transfers, or wire transfers give the perception of near instantaneous transactions. However, even though our financial system operates on the assumption that these payment systems are instantaneous, often no… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice ManagementU.S. Federal Trade Commission releases cybersecurity resources for small businesses
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has just released cybersecurity resources for small business. They were developed after the FTC hosted roundtables to ask business owners what they needed to deal with the threat of cybercrime. While not specifically aimed at law firms, the cyber issues and dangers they face are often the same as any… Read More »
Categories: Fraud Prevention, TechnologyNew and exciting opportunities – and claims risks: Marijuana law
As recreational marijuana makes its way onto Ontario store shelves, lawyers are gearing up for the new market. From producers to retailers, and everything in between – retail stores, physicians, banks, transportation companies, accountants, you name it – clients will come from all segments of industry. Here we take a look at some of the… Read More »
Categories: Uncategorized, Communication Errors, Risk Management Strategies, Law Practice Management, Risk Management & Claims PreventionIn the practicePRO Library: Evernote as a Law Practice Tool
Looking for a simple and cost-effective way to organize your practice? Evernote is the answer. This program is a memory aid for just about everything you do. Say goodbye to hours spent searching for those meeting notes you saved somewhere on your computer or mobile device or that to-do list you think you put in… Read More »
Categories: Legal TechnologyIn the practicePRO Library: Macs in Law
Are you Mac-curious? The vast majority of lawyers and law practices still use Windows, but an increasing number are contemplating the switch to Mac, due to its reliability, usability, and security. However, authors Brett Burney and Tom Lambotte know that Macs may not be the best choice for every lawyer and law practice. Macs in… Read More »
Categories: Legal TechnologyIn the practicePRO Library: Trust Accounting in One Hour for Lawyers
Trust accounting is one area that no one can afford to overlook, but busy lawyers don’t have time or resources to waste. Lawyers who are leaving their law firms to establish their own solo practice or small firm need this simple primer to fulfill their ethical and fiduciary responsibilities to safeguard the money belonging to… Read More »
Categories: Practice Aids, Law Practice ManagementPitfalls of Judging Your Own Competency
It is not easy to know yourself. According to the Dunning-Kruger effect, a cognitive bias, less competent people think they are more competent than they actually are, and competent people think they are worse than they actually are. Consider the following three scenarios, in which you perform a task at different stages of your career… Read More »
Categories: Law Practice Management, Risk Management & Claims Prevention, Mentoring, Coaching